Environment Life

Leopards can be identified by roar, study finds

Admin

January 3, 2025
2 min read

Leopards can be identified by roar, study finds

A new study has found that leopards have their own unique roar which can allow them to be identified. In the first large-scale paired camera trap and autonomous survey for large carnivores in Africa, the research team was able to identify individual leopards through their vocalisation with 93% accuracy.

It has been celebrated as an important step in using bioacoustics in the conservation of the animals. Leopards are classified as ‘vulnerable’ to extinction by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This is due primarily to habitat loss and conflict between humans and wildlife. Because the animals are solitary and nocturnal, living over large expanses of terrain, it has been challenging for scientists to gather reliable data to combat the decline in their populations.

There has been little research into the ‘sawing roar’ of the big cats. This refers to their repeated low-frequency pattern of strokes that can be heard from a kilometre away. It is used mainly to attract mates and defend their territory.

Studying them through the sound they make, known as bioacoustics, would allow the researchers to monitor much larger areas. These techniques are often used to monitor birds and marine species. It could also lead to more comprehensive research including population estimates, a key measure for conservation.

The team conducted the study over 450 square kilometres in the Nyerere National Park in Tanzania, attaching 50 pairs of cameras to trees on roads and trails. They placed microphones beside each camera to identify each animal, and used a modelling system to analyse the pattern of their roar.

The study was a collaboration between the University of Exeter, the Wildlife Conservation Unit at the University of Oxford, Lion Landscapes, Frankfurt Zoological Society, TAWIRI (Tanzania Wildlife Institute for Research) and TANAPA (Tanzania National Parks Authority), along with computer scientists from Exeter and Oxford. It was presented at the Growcott at the British Ecological Society Annual meeting in Liverpool.

Stay tuned to EyeOnLondon for the latest news and expert opinions.